Wire-stretcher



W. C. M ITCHELL.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY21, 19x9.

1,339,407. Patented May 11,1920.

\Hll Hill HI III HIHH HIIIH" W a ficz wwm Y mu WILLIAMC. MITCHELL, 0FGBANDVIEW, TENNESSEE.

WIRE-STRETCH-ER.

eeaaor.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 21, 1919. Serial No. 298,640.

1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. MrroH- ELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Grandview, in the county of Cumberland and State ofTennessee, have invented certain new and a specification. I I

his invention relates to improvements in wire stretchers and the primaryobject of the invention is to provide a device of this character adaptedto be clamped to a strand of wire and associated with a fence post in amanner that will permit the wire to be thoroughly stretched.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved clampingelement associated with the stretching mechanism whereby a number ofwires may be attached to the stretcher so that an equal tens1onmay beobtained on all of the wires which constitute the fence.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which consists of comparatively few parts and is simple inconstructiombut durable and well adapted to withstand the rough usage towhich devices of this character are ordinarily subjected.

For a full description of and the advantages and merits erence is to behad to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device constructed in accordance with myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of a portion of the invention, and,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section taken through the clampingmechanism.

Referring to the drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferred form ofmy invention, in which like characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the rack bar 1 isprovided with a plurality of teeth 2 along one of its edges and has ahead 3 formed at one end which extends at right angles from the mainportion of the rackbar and has one edge provided with corrugationsadapted to engage the fence post indicated at A. Attached to this head 8is a forwardly extending bar 4 the end of which forms a bearing 5through which a turn screw 6 is extended, the latter having its terminalreceived in a supporting member 7 carried by the invention thereofrefuseful Improvements in. Wire-Stretchers,-of which the following isthe head 3 so that the screw 6 lies parallel with the member 4. The endof the screw is provided with a handle 8 for the purpose of turning thescrew. Slidably mounted on the bar 4 and projecting parallel with thehead 8 .is a jaw 9 which has one end shaped to form a sleeve 10throughwhich a screw.

threaded opening is formed for receiving the turn screw 6 so that whenthe handle 8 is turned to rotate the turn screw, the latter will causethe sliding jaw 9 to move into engagement' with the fence post fortightly gripping the same as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

A-longitudinally movable supporting bar 11 is arranged parallel to therack bar 1 on the side opposite the teeth 2 and this bar carries theyoke members 12 and 13 which embrace the rack bar 1 to maintain the rackbar and supporting bar 11 in proper relative positions A pawl 14 ispivotally mounted on the yoke 13 and is spring pressed to cause it toengage the teeth 2 of the rack bar whereby accidental sliding movementof they supporting bar 11 in a rearward direction is prevented.

Pivotally attached to the bar 11 is an oper ating lever 18 having anextension handle 19 which may be of any desired length. The handleportion 18 is bifurcated and the branches of the bifurcation straddlethe rack bar and are pivotally connected to the supporting bar 11; Anoperating pawl 20' is mounted between said bifurcation branches of themember 18 and is normally held in operative position by a coil expansionspring which urges the pawl into engagement with the teeth 2 on the rackbar.

One end of the supporting bar 11 is laterally offset to provide a plate22 disposed parallel with the rack bar as shown in Fig. 1. This platecarries two clamp plates 23 and 2 1 which are elongated as shown toadvantage in Fig. 2. The plate 22 is provided with a slot 25 throughwhich a screw threaded bolt 26 is extended. This bolt. is provided witha handle 27 whereby it may be readily turned. A screw threaded openingin the plate 23 receives the bolt 26 and the plate 261 is provided witha nut having a central screw threaded opening as indicated at 28 in Fig.4 of the drawings to receive the end of the bolt 26. When the bolt isturned by the handle 27, the two plates 23 and 2 1 will be drawntogether to clamp the strands of wire which constitute Patented May 11,-1920.

the fence. A number of these bolts are provided in the clamping plate,bein longitudinally spaced apart, as shown iniig. 2 and may be tightenedand loosened to engage or disengage the wire strands B. Each nut 28 isprovided with a central circular portion from which diametricallyopposite fingers extend to be received in recesses 29 formed in theplate 24 for this purpose. In this manner the nuts 28 are held againstrotation while the bolts are being turned.

In operation, the post engaging device will be mounted as shown, thehead 3 and movable jaw 9 being tightly engaged with the post. Thestrands of wire will then be engaged between the clamping members of theclamp whereupon the bolts will be tightened to tightly fix the wirestrands to the clamp. Then, by reciprocating the operating lever, the suoporting bar 11 may be longitudinally movefl by virtue of the engagementand disengagement of the pawl with the teeth in the rack bar, thusstretching the wire strands after which they may be fixed to the fencepost.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings have reference towhat might be considered to be thepreferred form of m invention. Idesire it to be understood tiat I may make such changes in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, material dimensions,et cetera,

v as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus fully described my invention and means extending through allthree of said plates and adjustable to clamp the same snugly inengagement,

2. A Wire fence stretcher, including a rack bar one end of which isadapted to be secured, a supporting bar slidable on the rack bar, andengaged with the fence wires, a handle for actuating the supporting barconsisting of a shank one end of which is bifurcated and the branches ofthe bifurcation straddle the rack bar and pivotally engage with saidsupporting bar, a pawl pending between said branches and engaging therack bar whereby movement handle will actuate the supporting bar forstretching the fence wires.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM C. MITCHELL. Witnesses:

J E. Bmmm'r, Mrs. A. E. NILES.

of said.

